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Tampa Bay WaVE Entrepreneurs Adding Jobs, Receiving Funding

Tampa, FL (September 12, 2013) – Tampa Bay WaVE, a non-profit that helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into growing technology ventures in Tampa Bay, is succeeding in its mission. Technology start-ups going through the accelerator program are receiving funding, technical, administrative and political support and adding jobs.

The latest FirstWaVE Accelerator program clients include:

Legacy Forrest – Web platform designed to capture a family’s stories, pictures, and memories through videos, photos, and written stories.

UpValet – Managed tablet CRM tool for car dealerships. It allows the sales department to have all of the information they need about their inventory at their fingertips and the ability to capture real time information about potential clients while they do a test drive.

Appraiser5 – Mobile application designed to help real estate professionals find quick and accurate property information such as owner’s names, school districts and flood zones.

MyReviewers.com – USF technology designed by teachers that is a web-based peer review for English composition students to peer edit their class work.

Taskvilla – Online platform designed for small businesses to manage the recruitment process through an application and task/skill verification.

Mentorem – Learning aid platform for students to use to assist them in keeping track of assignments, class syllabi, study sessions, and exams.

FirstWaVE offers a wide variety of benefits to startups in all phases of development, including bootcamps and workshops by local entrepreneurs and business executives, dedicated mentors, opportunities to meet with investors, access to a team of dedicated student interns and free professional services. Clients also have access to coworking and office space within the FirstWaVE Venture Center, located in Tampa Bay WaVE’s headquarters on the second floor of Rivergate Tower, downtown Tampa.

“Tampa Bay WaVE has increased our visibility within the Tampa business and investor community, said David Etheredge, CEO and Co-founder of SavvyCard, a mobile web platform that combines features of an online business card with an intelligent referral system that generates measurable leads and sales.“This exposure along with the mentorship program has allowed SavvyCard to raise nearly a quarter of a million in angel funding and sign a deal with the Miami Association of Realtors, the largest realtor association in the US. In addition, we have hired ten new employees since the first of the year.”

“We currently have a dozen food trucks in Tampa with our GPS technology, have full Mayor support and even hired a tech developer all thanks to Tampa Bay WaVE and the collaboration with fellow entrepreneurs,” says Michael Lynch, COO of Truckspotting, a location-centric app allowing people to look for food truck locations and menus on a map of their area.

“Since entering the accelerator program, we have successfully launched the first version of our product and established the foundation for our strategic partnerships with customers and channels, which is helping us get to market more quickly,” said Justin Davis, founder and CEO of Drawer, a mobile app focused on capturing and cataloguing restaurant, movie, book or product recommendations from friends. “The mentors and advisors at WaVE have kept us thinking about the right things and inspiring us to make progress faster than we were before.”

To date, more than 30 startups have gone through the accelerator program with similar stories of success.

Applications for the next accelerator class must be submitted by 10/31/13. To review the application and requirements or to apply, click on this link: https://tampabaywave.wufoo.com/forms/firstwave-venture-center-application/.
There is no fee to apply. Finalists will be asked to attend a live pitch event with the FirstWaVE Accelerator vetting committee on 11/8/13. The next FirstWaVE class will be announced on 11/11/13. All accepted ventures are required to attend a full-day Tech Venture Bootcamp on 11/15/13.

About Tampa Bay WaVE:
Tampa Bay WaVE is a non-profit providing entrepreneurs and innovators with facilitated access to the resources, organizations, expertise and capital they need to create technology-based companies that will be the foundation for economic growth in the Tampa Bay region and eventually across the state. With a grant from U.S. Commerce Department and support from The University of South Florida and keystone corporate sponsors including In-Rel Properties, Sykes Enterprises, AVI-SPL, Florida Blue and Absolute Mobile Solutions, Tampa Bay WaVE is poised to jumpstart innovation and economic growth. For more information, visit www.tampabaywave.org.

- See more at: http://www.tampabaynewswire.com/2013/09/12/tampa-bay-wave-entrepreneurs-adding-jobs-receiving-funding-14813#sthash.2A9rSHQF.dpuf